Digitalis plant named ‘ISOB007’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Digitalis plant named ‘ISOB007’ that is characterized by its compact and well-branched plant habit, its freely flowering habit, and its flowers that are apricot orange in color.

Botanical classification: Digitalis isabelliana.

Cultivar designation: ‘ISOB007’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to European Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) Plant Breeder's Rights Application No. 2019/1211 filed on May 14th 9, 2019, under 35 U.S.C. 119(f), the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Digitalis isabelliana and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘ISOB007’. ‘ISOB007’ represents a new cultivar of Canary Island foxglove; an herbaceous perennial grown for landscape use.

‘ISOB007’ was discovered by the Inventor as a branch mutation of an unnamed and unpatented plant of Digitalis isabelliana that was growing in a container in Valley Center, Calif. in June of 2010.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings under the direction of the Inventor in July of 2010 in Bonsall, Calif. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘ISOB007’ as a unique cultivar of Digitalis.

-   -   1. ‘ISOB007’ exhibits a compact and well-branched plant habit.     -   2. ‘ISOB007’ exhibits a freely flowering habit.     -   3. ‘ISOB007’ exhibits flowers that are apricot orange in color.

The parent plant of ‘ISOB007’ differs from ‘ISOB007’ in having a less compact plant habit, less branching, and in being less floriferous. There are no known cultivars in cultivation of the species Digitalis isabelliana known to the Inventor for comparison.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Isoplexis. The photographs were taken of a one-year-old plant of ‘ISOB007’ as grown outdoors in a 17-cm container in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of a plant of ‘ISOB007’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘ISOB007’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘ISOB007’.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Digitalis.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as observed for plants about one year in age as grown outdoors in 17-cm containers in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Summer into autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Upright and compact.         -   Height and spread.—Average of 35.4 cm in height from soil to             top of foliar plane, 60.5 cm in height from soil level to             top of floral plane, 30.3 cm in diameter as grown in the             landscape.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 7 to 11.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed.         -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.         -   Root development.—About 7 days to initiate roots and 4 to 5             weeks to produce a young rooted plant.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Shape.—Round.         -   Stem quantity.—Well-branched with an average of 1 main             branch and 5 lateral branches per main branch.         -   Stem color.—Young stems; 146B, tinged N187B, mature stems             and internodes; a color between 200A and N187A.         -   Stem size.—Average of 4 mm in diameter and 10.5 cm             (excluding inflorescence) in length.         -   Stem surface.—Slightly glossy and densely covered with soft             pubescence hairs; an average of 0.4 mm in length and 157D in             color.         -   Stem strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Stem aspect.—Main branches held at an average angle of 40°             to vertical, lateral branches held at an average angle of             45° to main branches.         -   Internode length.—Average of 7 mm. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf shape.—Narrow elliptic and moderately curved downward.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 11.4 cm in length and 2.5 cm in             length.         -   Leaf number.—Average of 15 per lateral branch.         -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf margin.—Serrate.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface 200D in color, lower             surface 146 in color.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces smooth, moderately leathery and             glabrous except for very short pubescent hairs covering the             margins; average of 0.75 mm in length and 157D in color.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; NN137B, young lower             surface; 146A, mature upper surface; 147A, mature lower             surface; 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal racemes.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Individual flowers last an             average of 14 days, self-cleaning.         -   Inflorescence size.—Terminal; average of 28.5 cm in height,             6.1 cm in diameter, secondary average of 14.6 cm in height,             6.1 cm in diameter.         -   Flower type.—Single, zygomorphic.         -   Flower number.—50 to 100 per inflorescence, 300 per plant.         -   Flower aspect.—Outward.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower buds.—Ovate in shape, average of 9 mm in length and 4             mm in diameter, color; 144C, lower side 144D, immature calyx             N170B, surface is smooth, glabrous and matte.         -   Flower size.—Average of 2.3 cm in height, 2.6 cm in             diameter, 3 cm in depth, throat; average of 9 mm in length,             4 mm in diameter, tube; average of 9 mm in length, is 1 cm             in diameter and 5 mm at base.         -   Flower shape.—Zygomorphic.         -   Peduncle.—Held in a vertical angle, moderately strong,             surface is smooth, glabrous, matte, 183C in color, terminal             size; average of 25.7 cm in length, 2 mm in width, lateral             size; average of 11.8 cm in length, 2 mm in diameter.         -   Pedicels.—Average of 3.5 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width,             held at an average angle of 40°, strong, surface is smooth,             glabrous and matte, 178B in color.         -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, tubular, average of 7 mm in length             and 1.2 cm in diameter.         -   Sepals.—5, rotate, 1 whorl, obovate in shape, 27.5% of base             is fused, narrow acuminate apex, entire margins, both             surfaces smooth, glabrous and matte, color; when opening             upper surface 144D, when opening lower surface 144C, when             fully open upper and lower surface 143B, changing to 146A at             the top.         -   Petals.—5, (1 lower petal, 2 lateral petals, 2 fused upper             petals), 1 whorl, narrowly ovate to slightly curved             backwards, acute apex, 9 mm of base is fused, lobes; entire             margins, upper petals glabrous and smooth, lower and lateral             petals matte and densely covered with very short glandular             hairs; average of 0.2 mm and matches surface color, lower             and lateral petals; average of 2 cm in length, 3.5 mm to 7             mm in width, upper petals (fused); average of 2.8 cm in             length, 1 cm in width, color: when opening upper surface;             lower and lateral petals N170C, tinged 145C with tip 172B             and 173A, upper petals 145C, tip margined 171D, when opening             lower surface; lower and lateral petals 166B, changing to             145C at the base, upper petals 164B, fading to 145C at the             base, when fully open upper surface; lower and lateral             petals 165B, fading towards the tube changing to 164B, upper             petals 164C, fading towards the tube to 160D, tip of petals             margined 171D, when fully open lower surface; lower and             lateral petals 164B, margined 164A, upper petals N167B,             changing towards the base to 164C and N167C, veins on upper             petals 164A, throat color; 161A, tube color; inner surface             160D, outer surface 164B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil; 1, 2.1 mm in length, style; 2 cm in             length, 183C in color, stigma; pointed, 148D in color,             ovary; 143A to 143B in color.         -   Androecium.—Stamens; 4, filament; 1.8 cm in length, 183D in             color, anthers; basifixed, oblong in shape, 3 mm in length,             2 mm in width, 151D in color, pollen; high in quantity, 13D             in color.         -   Fruit and seed.—Fruit and seed production have not been             observed to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Digitalis plant named ‘ISOB007’ as herein illustrated and described. 